                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

REGISTRATION OF PHARMACY TECHNICIANS (§ 54.1-3321)

A. No person shall perform the duties of a pharmacy technician without first
being registered as a pharmacy technician with the Board. Upon being registered
with the Board as a pharmacy technician, the following tasks may be performed:

   1. The entry of prescription information and drug history into a data system
   or other record keeping system;

   2. The preparation of prescription labels or patient information;

   3. The removal of the drug to be dispensed from inventory;

   4. The counting, measuring, or compounding of the drug to be dispensed;

   5. The packaging and labeling of the drug to be dispensed and the repackaging
   thereof;

   6. The stocking or loading of automated dispensing devices or other devices
   used in the dispensing process;

   7. The acceptance of refill authorization of a prescription for a Schedule III
   through Schedule VI drug and clarification of quantity or refills for a
   prescription issued for a Schedule VI drug from a prescriber or his authorized
   agent, so long as there is no other change to the original prescription;

   8. The acceptance of an electronic transfer of a refill for a Schedule VI drug
   upon order of the pharmacist-in-charge or pharmacist on duty if the refill is
   not an on-hold prescription;

   9. Under the supervision of a pharmacist, meaning the supervising pharmacist
   is at the same physical location of the technician or pharmacy intern, and
   consistent with the requirements of &#xA7; 54.1-3303.1, administration of the
   following drugs and devices to persons three years of age or older as set
   forth in regulations of the Board: vaccines included on the Immunization
   Schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
   vaccines for COVID-19; and

   10. The performance of any other task restricted to pharmacy technicians by
   the Board&#8217;s regulations.

B. To be registered as a pharmacy technician, a person shall submit:

   1. An application and fee specified in regulations of the Board;

   2. Evidence that he has successfully completed a training program that is (i)
   an accredited training program, including an accredited training program
   operated through the Department of Education&#8217;s Career and Technical
   Education program or approved by the Board; (ii) recognized by the Pharmacy
   Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association; or
   (iii) operated through a federal agency or branch of the military; and

   3. Evidence that he has successfully passed a national certification
   examination administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the
   National Healthcareer Association.

C. The Board shall promulgate regulations establishing requirements for:

   1. Issuance of a registration as a pharmacy technician to a person who, prior
   to the effective date of such regulations, (i) successfully completed or was
   enrolled in a Board-approved pharmacy technician training program or (ii)
   passed a national certification examination required by the Board but did not
   complete a Board-approved pharmacy technician training program;

   2. Issuance of a registration as a pharmacy technician to a person who (i) has
   previously practiced as a pharmacy technician in another U.S. jurisdiction and
   (ii) has passed a national certification examination required by the Board;
   and

   3. Evidence of continued competency as a condition of renewal of a
   registration as a pharmacy technician.

D. The Board shall waive the initial registration fee for a pharmacy technician
applicant who works as a pharmacy technician exclusively in a free clinic
pharmacy. A person registered pursuant to this subsection shall be issued a
limited-use registration. A pharmacy technician with a limited-use registration
shall not perform pharmacy technician tasks in any setting other than a free
clinic pharmacy. The Board shall also waive renewal fees for such limited-use
registrations. A pharmacy technician with a limited-use registration may convert
to an unlimited registration by paying the current renewal fee.

E. Any person registered as a pharmacy technician prior to the effective date of
regulations implementing the provisions of this section shall not be required to
comply with the requirements of subsection B in order to maintain or renew
registration as a pharmacy technician.

F. A pharmacy technician trainee enrolled in a training program for pharmacy
technicians described in subdivision B 2 may engage in the acts set forth in
subsection A for the purpose of obtaining practical experience required for
completion of the training program, so long as such activities are directly
monitored by a supervising pharmacist.

G. To be registered as a pharmacy technician trainee, a person shall submit an
application and a fee specified in regulations of the Board. Such registration
shall only be valid while the person is enrolled in a pharmacy technician
training program described in subsection B and actively progressing toward
completion of such program. A registration card issued pursuant to this section
shall be invalid and shall be returned to the Board if such person fails to
enroll in a pharmacy technician training program described in subsection B.

H. A pharmacy intern may perform the duties set forth for pharmacy technicians
in subsection A when registered with the Board for the purpose of gaining the
practical experience required to apply for licensure as a pharmacist.

I. A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse practicing at an opioid
treatment program pharmacy may perform the duties set forth for pharmacy
technicians in subsection A, provided that all take-home medication doses are
verified for accuracy by a pharmacist prior to dispensing.

HISTORY: 2001, c. 317; 2004, c. 47; 2020, cc. 102, 237; 2022, cc. 138, 790, 791;
2024, c. 214; 2025, c. 168.